AN: So this is my first fanfic. I haven't done any writing since high school and that was limited to essays and such so I'm hoping this goes well and you all like it, if you have any tips, suggestions or feedback then feel free to leave a review, for reference in x794 Erza is 22, Natsu (physically) and Gray are 21, Lucy is 20 and Wendy (physically) is 15, with that said let the story begin.

Fairy Tail is owned by Mr Hiro Mashima, this story is mine though.

June x794 Somewhere in Fiore, 10 months after Team Natsu left for their 100-year quest.

Its currently midday on a beautiful sunny summer day in Fiore, five people and two exceeds can be seen walking down a path in the middle of nowhere on their way to their job.

"God my ankles hurt." Complained a beautiful blonde woman as she pouted at her companions, the blonde was wearing pink Heart Kreuz shirt, short white skirt, black thigh-high thin heeled boots, she also has a belt which holds a pouch for her celestial keys on one side and her whip on the other.

"Well you're not exactly wearing the right shoes for walking Lucy." replied a raven-haired guy as he shed his shirt causing Lucy to grumble at him, he was wearing a nearly removed navy blue shirt that was almost skin tight, black pants with a belt and black combat boots.

"Would you like to borrow a pair of mine?" Asked an armoured red-head as she held out a pair of boots to the blonde who waved her arms and shook her head. The red-head wore the latest model of her custom Heart Kreuz armour consisting of two gauntlets and elbow guards, a single pauldron on her right arm with none on her left to display her blue guild mark, a breast plate and armour plating covering parts of her blue skirt, black knee-high boots and a sword on her hip.

"No, no I'm good Erza." She turns to a pinkette who is chatting to a young bluenette. "Natsu carry me." She looks at him with a cute look while holding her arms out.

Natsu turns to look at her then shrugs, taking his backpack off his back and motioning for her to jump on which she does so happily. He was wearing a skin tight black shirt without sleeves tucked into maroon pants and black boots, a red coat with gold trimming and gold flame on the sleeves, around his neck he has a chain with a lacrima encased in a pendant, inside the lacrima is what remains of Igneel's power that was granted to Natsu after his death at the claws of Acnologia, a small but brilliant fire can be seen burning away inside the lacrima, his trademark scarf currently in his backpack.

Turning his attention back to the youngest person of their group he continues their conversation "So Wendy, how are ya doing with the training tips I gave you?" The bluenette smile happily at her pseudo older brother "I think it's going great, right Carla?" She looks down at the white-haired cat in her arms. The cat was in a burgundy dress while Wendy herself was in a red and white blazer with a white dress shirt under it and an orange bowtie, a black skirt that has a white stipe near the bottom of it, dark blue thigh high socks and scuffs.

Carla looks up at her. "You have gotten much better child, but you still have some ways to go." This causes the blue-haired girl to smile even more as she continues to talk to Natsu.

While this is happening the seventh and final member of the group was flying beside them while poking fun at Lucy. "If you weren't so heavy Lucy then maybe your ankles wouldn't hurt."
Lucy turns her head to the blue exceed, angry at his insult and for interrupting her enjoying Natsu's natural warmth. "Shut it Happy! You annoying cat!"

She tries to bat him away, but he flies just out of her reach while snicking. In an effort to appeal to Carla, Happy has started to wear some clothes instead of baring all of his feline glory, He wears a simple blue hoodie with white sleeves and a small green Fairy Tail emblem on the front, blue pants with white cuffs and is green bag still on his back.

Erza, finally noticing that Gray took his shirt off and is about to discard it, turns to face him. "Gray put your shirt back on." she demands sternly. "I can't help but wonder how much that habit of yours costs you in clothing." "…uh yeah… you probably don't want to know." Gray replies as he puts his shirt back on and scratches the back of his neck.

"Probably where most of his money goes to ya know?" Natsu chimed in. "Oi butt out of it flame brain." Retorted Gray. "So how much further do we have to travel Erza?"

"Not much further, we should be there by nightfall." She answered while requipping a map and checking it. "We need to be careful though, from what we have been told in the last few villages that we were in, there is a group of dark mages who proclaim to be the most powerful dark guild ever." She sighs and continues. "Since we don't know much about them we should be alert and aware of our surroundings as it closes on night time, I don't want us caught off guard, Natsu and Wendy." Erza turns to face the two dragon slayers as they look over to her.

"Yes Erza?" Wendy questions. "I need you two to keep your eyes, ears and noses out for anyone nearby, warn us if you sense any threats, no matter how small." Seeing both the slayers nod at her, she turns back to the front and studies the map.

Later that day

"So are these the ruins we are looking for? The relic is meant to be inside right?" Lucy asked the group as she ran her hand over an engraved pillar.

"Yes, let's set up camp in the trees over there, best to stay out of sight when we have an enemy force of unknown strength and size nearby." Erza replies as she points and heads to the tree line, the others hot on her tail. "I want one person awake and on watch while the others are sleeping, we'll go on shifts, I'll go first, Natsu next, Lucy, Wendy and finally Gray."

They all go about setting up their camp and eating dinner, after some time has past they all get ready to sleep with Erza taking the first watch.

Natsu's Watch – Natsu's POV

'So much for there being danger, the only thing around here are animals… and not the dangerous kind.' I thought as I looked around, I turn my eyes to the sky. 'My shift is about over, so I might as well wake Luce, hopefully she wont Lucy Kick me to hell and back for waking her.'

I get up and stretch, looking over to my blonde best friend. "hmm she looks like an angel when she sleeps" I murmur as I walk to her side, kneeling and gently shaking her shoulder, speaking softly. "Hey luce, wake up its time for your shift."

She mumbles something about it being too early so I shake her a little more vigorously, I smile when I see her eye lids flutter open. "Hey luce."

She frowns as she yawns and looks around then sits up as he eyes drift back to me. "My turn for a shift?" I nod and help her up then get into my sleeping bag that is next to hers. "Mind if I stay close Natsu? It's kinda cold." Smiling up at her I nod my answer then close my eyes, hearing her sit beside me before I fall asleep.

Natsu's Dream – No POV

Natsu stood in a field while fires raged all around him, but these weren't ordinary fires, they were black with a tint of red and a dark power radiating off them. He looks around as he takes in the area, calling out to his friends but not hearing any responses.

He hears faint and low but distinct chuckling and turns to it. "Who's out there?" He calls out but only gets louder chuckles as a response. Natsu starts walking to the sound, the chuckles get even louder then progress into laughter as a shadowy figure rises out of the fire at his approach.

"Who or what are you?" Natsu asks the shadow.

The shadow solidifies into a male outline and opens its red eyes and red ember markings appear on his arms, torso and neck. "You really are stupid if you can't figure that one for yourself." replies the shadowy being causing Natsu to tilt his head and frown. "think back a couple of years and you may recognise the feeling and this landscape around us." The shadow continues as he raises his arms to indicate the fields of intense fire.

Slightly aggravated at Natsu's continued ignorance, the shadow cuts to the chase. "look, I brought you here because I can tell something big is going to happen soon, something dangerous and powerful looms on the horizon and you need to be careful, shits going to hit the fan and it's going to happen really soon, I know you're strong, but I don't think you'll be able to stop it alone, so you'll need my help." The shadowy figure steps forward, revealing a tanned complexion, pink hair, and the same scars as Natsu has but with the red eyes and markings that glow with demonic power.

Natsu's eyes go wide and he instantly wakes from the dream.

Ancient Ruins, Fiore

Natsu opens his eyes and feels a weight on his side, turning his head he sees Lucy hugging his side to keep warm, smiling softly he gently pries her off him and gets up the stretches.

Gray looks over at the noise. "What's up ash for brains?" He asks as Natsu walks over.

"I need to talk Gray." Natsu replies as he sits down next to Gray.

"Being serious huh?" At his friend's nod Gray continues. "So, what is it you need to talk about?"

"END" Natsu says as he looks down at his hands. "I had a weird dream that everything was on fire…" He retells the dream to Gray who just watches him with a slightly shocked and worried look.

"Well I'm no Cana but I think I know a bad sign when I see one… and that just sounds completely foreboding." Gray states once he has heard what Natsu has to say.

Fairy Tail Guild Hall, Magnolia, Fiore

Cana sits at the bar, sipping her beer and talking to Mirajane when she suddenly sneezes. "Huh, someone must be talking about me."

Mirajane giggles. "It's probably Bacchus."

"No, that just gives me the urge to drink more." Replies Cana with a smirk.

Mira tilt her head and places a finger on her chin in thought. "Oh, I wonder who it could be then."

Ancient Ruins, Fiore

"I know, but I can't help but wonder what the danger is, I can't smell or hear anything that would cause us harm." Natsu says as he looks around.

"I don't know man, but hopefully it was just a dream and nothing more." Gray said as he stretched out his arms and legs.

"I'm not sure, it felt too real ya know?" Natsu states as he turns to look at his friend. "What if it was E.N.D.? You saw what happened during the war, in fact you fought me when I lost control…"

"Yeah I did." Gray sighs. "But we both had lost something then and weren't thinking straight, not to mention that Invel guy from Alvarez turned me against you."

"He told you I was Zeref's brother and E.N.D. right?" Seeing Gray nod, he continues. "It's not really your fault, you promised your dad that you'd kill end, and after losing Juvia, you were blinded by rage, I was the same with Lucy, but I was angry at my brother for causing all this."

"If you could change the way things ended, what would you do?" Gray asks as he turns to face Natsu.

"I'd find a way to remove both Mavis and Zeref's curses, so they can live a normal life, but I think that's a bit farfetched…" Natsu replies. "But then at least they'd have a real chance to be together, I'd also get to be with the brother that I never knew I had too." He sighs as he looks up at the lightening sky.

"Good intentions, but did he deserve it?" Asks Gray.

"Yes, not only did he give me a second chance at life, but he taught Mavis and the other founders magic, he made it possible for them to form Fairy Tail." Natsu looks back to Gray. "I know he has done bad things but is Fairy Tail not about giving people second chances?"

Gray sighs and nods. "I can see where you're coming from."

After a few minutes of silence Natsu speaks up. "Gray, what do you miss most?"

Gray looks over and raises an eyebrow. "From being away from the guild all this time?" Seeing him nod, Gray continues. "Well as weird as it sounds, I miss Juvia's stalking, kinda got used to it and didn't mind it after the war, you know?"

"I guess, Lucy is the same, after the war that is, both her and I nearly died multiple times, so she doesn't make a fuss when I drop by her apartment anymore, in fact when I do, I always see a smile on her lips, even when she is concentrating on her new book." Natsu stretches and looks back at his closest friend as she sleeps behind him, his eyes shift to a stirring Erza. "Erza is waking up so get ready to start the day."

"Got it." Gray says as he stands and stretches. "What do you miss?"

"Mira's cooking." Natsu gets up and starts to wake the rest of his team up while Gray chuckles.

"Why am I not surprised you miss that flame brain." Gray states rhetorically as he packs up and gets breakfast. "Got any coffee in that bag?"

"yeah, let me get a pot going once Erza wakes up completely." He turns to Gray after waking Wendy and Carla. "I'm thinking of having her teach me requip, just for day to day stuff, I don't think I'd be able to use it for combat like her."

"You sure you're up for that? You know what her teaching style is like" Gray points out, causing Natsu to shudder. "Don't remind me frost bite"

"Do you two really have to do that this early in the morning?" Groans Lucy as she groggily rubs her eyes and sits up. "You know what, don't answer that."

"Are you guys arguing already?" Erza asks while sitting up and glaring at them.

"No ma'am" Natsu said as he snaps off a quick salute. "Hey Erza, do you have a coffee pot I can borrow?"

Erza requips one and hands it to him, Natsu gets everything set to make coffee, starting a small fire to cook and boil the water on.

"You got milk on ice right Gray? Lucy, Wendy and Erza like theirs with milk." Natsu asks as he looks to his frenemy

"Yeah I'm not going to forget bringing that like the other month…" He states as he pulls out a frozen bottle of milk out of his bag, handing it to Natsu who thaws it out and brews everyone's coffee and tea along with cooking breakfast.

"I wish you told me you could cook Natsu." Lucy complains as she pouts at her best friend. "I would have had you cook more often."

"I thought you already knew, after all I did cook all my food when I wasn't at the guild or your place." Natsu says.

"How did you learn to cook?" Erza asks while watching him cook.

"Mira taught me, it was one of her ways of coping with Lisanna's "Death", she spent a lot of time at my place during that time." Natsu hands Erza a cup of coffee. "That should be exactly how you like it"

Erza takes a sip and nods. "It is, thank you"

"Hey Erza, once we are done with this ruin, can you teach me requip magic?" Natsu asks as he hands out the rest of the hot drinks.

"Hmm, why do you want to learn?" Erza looks at him curiously.

"Just to make traveling and life in general easier, I doubt I can be like you, an angel clad in armour with a halo of swords, when on the battlefield but I'd still like to learn it." States Natsu, causing Erza to blush a little at his choice of words but accept his offer to be her student.

Natsu hands out the food and they all sit around the fire, enjoying their breakfast before starting the day.

Later That Morning

Team Natsu were exploring the ruins, trying to find an entrance, Wendy trips over something and looks at it.

"I think I found it!" She shouts, causing the rest of the team to come running to her.

Natsu lifts the cover of the entrance and lights his hand on fire, using it as a torch as he leads the way into the ruins. Feeling the hairs on his body stand up he turns to Wendy. "You feel that?" Getting a nod in response he turns to the group. "Be careful, something doesn't feel right in here"

They make their way deeper into the underground ruins, the Dragon Slayers' senses screaming at them, putting them on edge.

Erza starts walking faster as they come to a straight hallway with engravings on the walls, she goes to place her boot down on a tile but is grabbed by Natsu. "Not there, step over it, or better yet let me go ahead and walk in my footsteps, my instincts are screaming at me and have been ever since the last hallway."

"Why?" Erza asks stubbornly.

"Poison, in the walls, I'm not sure why but I don't want to take any chances, use your Black Wing Armour to take Gray and Lucy to the doorway at the end of this hallway, Happy, Carla, you two take Wendy and me across" Natsu orders calmly.

They follow his plan and land in front of a chamber with a pedestal in the middle, entering slowly they approach the object sitting on the pedestal.

Lucy looks around and shakes softly. "Why are there skeletons everywhere?!"

"Probably got struck by the poison that pinkie was talking about" Gray says, gently patting her shoulder. "Just relax, we'll be ok"

She takes a deep breath and calms down. "Thanks Gray"

By the pedestal stand Natsu and Erza with Happy floating between them.

Natsu turns to Erza. "Is this the relic the chick wanted?"

Pulling out a drawing done by their client, Erza holds it up to the object. "Yes, it is" She goes to grab it but as he fingers are about to touch it a hand wraps around her armoured wrist. "What now Natsu?" She asks slightly annoyed.

"Something is off with this pillar, see how the relic is raised above the main part of the top, it could be some kind of trap, could need a weight to keep it from triggering" Natsu says as he looks around, trying to find something to replace the relic. "A skull maybe?"

Erza nods and picks one up. "Shall I?" After getting a nod from Natsu she quickly switches out the relic, holding it in her hand she lets out a breath that she was holding. "Seems like it worked"

Just as Natsu is about to open his mouth the ruins start to rumble and shake as the pedestal sinks into itself and into the floor. "fuck…"

Everyone turns to the centre of the room where the pedestal was then to a door that opens, a boulder starts rolling out off the door and towards them as parts of the ceiling fall to the floor.

"Fuck! Everybody run! Back down the hallway!" Shouts Natsu as he takes off down the way he stated, his team hot on his heals and the boulder hot on theirs. "You had to say that didn't you Erza?!"

"How was I supposed to know that would happen?!" Erza shouts back at Natsu.

They keep running down the hallway.

*Click*

Lucy's foot lands on a tile, causing it to sink into the floor slightly, triggering panels on the wall to open and darts to shoot out of them across the hallway. "Oops…" She says softly.

"Oh For Fucks Sake!" Shouts Natsu as they run for their lives from the boulder behind them and dodging poison darts coming from their sides. "Gray, I need two ice walls to block these fucking darts right now!"

"On it! Ice Make: Walls!" Gray shouts as he quickly gets to work. "There, no more darts!"

"We still have that boulder on our arses though Gray." Natsu states.

"I've got that covered." Lucy shouts as she stops and turns, summoning her magic. "Star Dress: Taurus! Lucy Kick!" She Kicks the boulder, causing it to come to a dead stop then blast backwards as it shatters.

"Nice one Luce, that makes up for triggering the darts." Comments Natsu as he relaxes.

"Ok, let's get out of here everyone, Natsu lead us out of here." Erza commands and follows Natsu as they make their way out of the still collapsing ruins.

Back On The Surface

Team Natsu come running out of the entrance of the ruins, the last person making it out just in time as the entrance collapses in a large cloud of dust, they all fall to their hands and knees, coughing and panting.

"Everyone ok?" Erza calls out.

They all respond that they are fine, taking a break they all sit down.

"That felt like I was in a movie or something, ya know?" Natsu says with a chuckle. "Still got the relic Erza?" Smiling when she requips it and holds it out, the relic shining in the sunlight. "Good, we can finish this quest and go home finally!" He shouts with his arms up in the air.

The dust settles around them and a large amount of men and women wearing dark cloaks, numbering over two hundred, are revealed.

One of them walks forward. "Well, well, well, lookie at what we got here, a bunch of Fairies got the relic for us, and we didn't even have to lift a finger." Says a heavily muscled man who appears to be the leader, calling out to his force.

Team Natsu gets up and ready for battle. "Who are you?!" Shouts Lucy.

"I am Akira Gravehart, and my friends here, are Obsidian Tomb, you might have heard of us" The man now known as Akira replies.

Erza's eyes widen and she requips her Purgatory Armour. "No holding back everyone, this is the guild I told you about!" She shouts, causing the rest of Team Natsu to activate their magic and power up, ready for a tough battle.

AN: Hopefully you liked this, I decided to leave it on a cliff hanger for the next chapter. Please review and leave any tips, it's all welcome. so until next time.